My reason for getting the 12-35 was mainly that it´s very sharp, reasonably fast and pretty neutral lens that covers all the wide angles I´ll need. Yes, it´s dissapointing that it´s not parfocal but it´s not the end of the world for MY use of it. However had there not been issues with zooming during recording, I could have put the gh2 with the 12-35 in the hands of any documentary shooter used to eng cams / camcorders and get acceptable results. My biggest gripe is the focus by wire. It does not feel right IMO but it could still turn very useful if it can be remote controlled by wifi.

As for OIS, it will of course help with handheld but the biggest pro with it is avoiding jello from micro-vibrations (f.i. if you do a critical dolly or rails shot)

That's not at all why I bought the lens, my reason was for the OIS, and I would say several other people bought it for that reason. Although the OIS works pretty good, especially handheld, it's nothing I can't get from a rig or stabilizer obviously. I've had my fun with it, but I'm returning it on Monday, it isn't really worth the high cost. There are several better lenses for half the cost, so I'm pretty much trading it for a rokinon 35 t1.5, rokinon 85 1.4 and possibly a gopro 3 after I see a little more from it.

Just tested it out and I see what you are saying, but everything I said in the 2nd half of my previous post is my procedure so it's kind of a non issue for me, which is probably why I didn't really take notice to the issue.

@GravitateMediaGroup

"I have this lens and have no aperture issues."

How can that be, you don't have this aperture glitch? I own this lens myself and I do have this glitch. My friends have this lens and they do have this glitch.

BTW, every panasonic lens has this "feature". See the beginning of this thread and you'll see that everybody has the same problem.

@GravitateMediaGroup, could you give us some shots you made with this lens (with zoomig in/out)?

Very strange...

This clip was shot with the 12-35mm 2.8 & 45-175 vario GX lenses by Jan den Ouden, Holland. Patch used was Nick Driftwood's Cluster V5 25p, cinema settings.

@dixier What you mean "I can't see difference." try to shot a fixed point at 35mm , OIS should eliminate the small vibrations of shooting handheld !

12-35 aperture glitch:

sad, very sad :-(

Just do it! The Oly is cheaper and it's really good. Don't expect a zoom to perform like a prime.

Plus, it has an option that comes close to manual focusing.

Even Canon "L" lenses on the expensive C300 don't have completely stepless aperture.

Get something mechanical and use your hand!

@Vitaliy_Kiselev I think that sums it up very well.

Thing is; the aperture "feature" should be possible to improve through a firmware update, so I encourage everyone using it to let Panasonic know.

I just did a test of it today and it seems it´s not a mechanical problem, but a problem of how the aperture is controlled, and it differs depending on what aperture you use. Like at f8-10 there are two "clicks" and wide open there are three..

http://www.slrclub.com/v/panasonic_forum/121992/?page=2&divpage=22

The guy seems pro in disassembling. He had disassembled Leica 45mm 2.8. Yes he assembled too.

His comment about 12-35. Mostly plastic screws. Only one O-ring around the mount. The barrel contact area has nonwoven material. He says, "Use it with extra caution in rainy day."

For some of us the OIS is the main attraction to buy this f2.8 lens. I wonder whether the flicker will be present on the GH3 with it, maybe it can be software controlled ?